So much has been made about Serra receivers Robert Woods and George Farmer, the top-rated receivers nationally in their class.

Yet the Cavaliers gave a not-so-subtle reminder just how dangerous their “other” guys can be in one of the biggest tests they will face this season.

Paul Richardson and Lindsey Anderson – almost forgotten players on the team – showed their big-play ability in a 27-17 nonleague victory at Carson on Friday night in a highly anticipated battle of two South Bay powers.

“Finally my number was called,” Richardson joked.

Richardson was an All-CIF Southern Section Pac-5 receiver last season at Los Alamitos, but had taken a more subtle role in his first two games for Serra.

This time, there was no keeping Richardson quiet as he had three catches for 84 yards, including a pair of acrobatic touchdowns that gave Serra an undeniable spark.

Anderson also came up big with five catches for 84 yards, keeping Carson off-balance.

“I have to realize that it’s a team sport and that we play as a team. And I love this team,” Anderson said. “But today, it was my time.

“When I got the ball in my hands, I had to prove myself.”

Woods was the first-down receiver, basically keeping the offense moving with four tough catches for 30 yards. Farmer caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that put Serra up for good.

“Basically with all four of us, we can’t be stopped,” Richardson said. “If you go one-on-one, it’s a wrap. And if you double someone, that leaves another one of our guys open. Tonight was an all-around game for us.”

Quarterback Conner Preston continued to reap the benefits of this receiver corps, which he said was eight deep, making one wonder what else Serra (3-0) has on its bench.

Preston completed 14 of 25 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Preston showed his resiliency by coming back after two costly interceptions led directly to 10 Carson points.

“This was one of those games you knew it was going to be physical, and you have to push through it,” Preston said. “Carson matches up so well with us, but it was cool to see everyone rally behind each other. We never backed down.”

Carson (2-1) took a 17-13 lead in the third quarter on the second of Dion Willis’ two touchdown runs with 4:17 left, recovering his own fumble in the end zone as he reached to cross the plane.

Then Serra came back, using a nine-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Farmer’s TD catch of an 18-yard pass from Preston with 2.7 seconds left in the third quarter.

“I liked our poise,” Serra coach Scott Altenberg said. “The first half was a little crazy, and we weren’t getting the calls or the bounces. But I’m most excited about how we played in the second half.

“This was big to beat Carson. I have nothing but respect for those guys over there.”

Running back Domonique McGee delivered the backbreaker, scoring on a 63-yard run at the start of the fourth quarter after an impressive three-and-out defensive stand by Serra. He took a sweep and took off down the sideline, giving Serra a 27-17 advantage and effectively taking Carson’s spirit with him.

“I had to end it. I had to finish,” said McGee, who finished with 140 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. “I asked the line to block for me before the play, and I believed we were going to do it. I bounced it to the outside, saw it was wide open and kept my knees pumping.”

Quarterback Justin Alo started strong for Carson, completing nine of his first 13 passes for 60 yards. But he was just 2-for-7 for 22 yards in the second half, finishing with 82 yards on 11-for-20 passing.

Willis grinded out 50 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries as Carson managed just 144 yards of offense.

“We came out a little slow defensively, but we turned it around,” said Serra linebacker Brian True, who led an imposing defensive effort with two sacks. “I hurt my ankle in the first half, but I knew I had to tape it up. I wasn’t coming out. We have a lot of friends on Carson, and I’m sure we’re going to get some trash-talking going.”

Carson rallied to take a 10-7 halftime lead, scoring on a 2-yard run by Willis and a 46-yard field goal by Juan Sanchez as time expired in the first half.

Then Carson fell apart in the second half, managing just 50 yards.

“We just decided not to play in the second half, and I honestly don’t know what happened,” Carson coach Mike Christensen said.

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